Substrate case and substrate accommodation apparatus

ABSTRACT

A substrate case includes a shaft portion around which a sheet-shaped substrate having a circuit area in which a circuit manufacturing process is performed is wound; and a cover portion that accommodates the substrate in the state of being wound around the shaft portion, the shaft portion having a holding portion that holds an area different from the circuit area at a winding start portion of the substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority toand the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/282,198, filed onDec. 29, 2009. The entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a substrate case and a substrateaccommodation apparatus.

As a display element constituting a display device such as, for example,a liquid crystal display element, an organic electro luminescence (anorganic EL) element, an electrophoresis element used in an electronicpaper or the like are known. Recently, as such a display element, anactive element (active device), in which a switching element called aThin Film Transistor (TFT) is formed on a substrate surface and theneach display device is formed thereon, has become mainstream.

Recently, a technique of forming a display element on a sheet-shapedsubstrate (e.g., a film member or the like) has been suggested. As thistechnique, for example, a method called a roll-to-roll type(hereinafter, simply designated as “roll type”) is known (for example,see International Application Publication No. WO 2006/100868). The rolltype delivers one sheet-shaped substrate (e.g., a band-like film member)wound around a supply roller on a substrate supply side and transportsthe substrate while winding up the delivered substrate using awithdrawal roller on the substrate withdrawal side.

From the substrate delivery to the winding up thereof, a gate substrate,a gate oxidation film, a semiconductor film, a source and drainelectrode or the like constituting the TFT are formed using a pluralityof processing apparatuses, and then the constituents of the displayelement are sequentially formed on the substrate. For example, in a caseof forming an organic EL element on the substrate, a light emittinglayer, an anode, a cathode, an electric circuit or the like aresequentially formed on the substrate. The substrate after the element isformed is transported to a processing apparatus of a subsequent process,for example, in the band shape as is or is forwarded as an individualdisplay device by cutting the substrate.

SUMMARY

However, in a case where the substrate formed in this manner istransported or forwarded in an exposed state, since damage, destructionor deformation of the sheet-shaped substrate or the display element, theswitching element or the like or attachment of foreign matter on thesheet-shaped substrate or the like are considered, careful handling isrequired. For this reason, for example, it is important to enhance thehandling ability of the substrate during forwarding, transportation orthe like.

A purpose of aspects of the present invention is to provide a substratecase and a substrate accommodation apparatus that can enhance thehandling ability of the sheet-shaped substrate.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda substrate case which includes a shaft portion around which asheet-shaped substrate having a circuit area in which a circuitmanufacturing process is performed is wound, and a cover portion thataccommodates the substrate in the state of being wound around the shaftportion, the shaft portion having a holding portion that holds an areadifferent from the circuit area in a winding start portion of thesubstrate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda substrate accommodation apparatus which includes a winding mechanismthat winds a sheet-shaped substrate having a circuit area in which acircuit manufacturing process is performed around a shaft portion, and atransportation mechanism that accommodates the shaft portion in thestate of winding the substrate in a cover portion.

According to aspects of the present invention, the handling ability ofthe sheet-shaped substrate can be enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view that shows a configuration of a substratecase according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view that shows a configuration of a shaftportion according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view that shows a configuration of part ofthe shaft portion according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram that shows a configuration taken along section A-Aof the shaft portion according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view that shows a configuration of a coverportion according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram that shows a configuration of a substrateaccommodation apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top plane view that shows a configuration of part of asubstrate accommodation apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram that shows configurations of a substrateprocessing apparatus and a substrate accommodation apparatus accordingto the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram that shows a configuration of part of a sheetsubstrate according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is diagram that shows an operation of a substrate accommodationapparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an operational diagram thereof.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view that shows another configuration of asubstrate case according to the present invention.

FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view that shows another configuration of asubstrate case according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view that shows a configuration of a substratecase 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the substrate case 1 has a shaft portion 2 and acover portion 3 and is configured so that the cover portion 3 is mountedon the shaft portion 2.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view that shows a configuration of the shaftportion 2 from which the shaft portion 3 is separated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft portion 2 is formed, for example, inapproximately a cylindrical shape, and is, for example, a portion aroundwhich a substrate (a sheet substrate) FB such as a film member formed inthe shape of a sheet is wound. The shaft portion 2 is formed, forexample, using a renewable material such as a hard corrugated cardboardor a carton paper. Of course, the shaft portion 2 may have aconfiguration that is formed using other materials.

In the present embodiment, as the sheet substrate FB, for example, afoil of a resin film or stainless steel, or the like, is included. Forexample, the resin film can use materials such as polyethylene resin,polypropylene resin, polyester resin, ethylene vinyl copolymer resin,polyvinyl chloride resin, cellulose resin, polyamide resin, polyimideresin, polycarbonate resin, polystyrene resin, vinyl acetate resin orthe like. On the sheet substrate FB, a circuit area RA (see FIG. 9), inwhich the circuit manufacturing process has been performed, is formed.

The shaft portion 2 has a first portion 21, a second portion 22, a ribportion 23, a connection portion 24, and a holding portion 25. A surfaceof the opposite side of the surface in which the circuit area RA isformed on the sheet substrate FB comes into contact with a surface ofthe first portion 21, a surface of the second portion 22, and a surfaceof the rib portion 23. The first portion 21, the second portion 22 andthe rib portion 23 are configured so as to be connected to each other bya connection portion 24.

Both side portions of the sheet substrate FB in a transverse direction,that is, side edge portions F1 and F2 of the sheet substrate FB comeinto contact with the first portion 21 and the second portion 22,respectively. In the first portion 21 and the second portion 22,connection object portions 27 and 28 to be connected to an externalrotation driving mechanism or a transporting mechanism are provided. Forthis reason, in a case of rotating or transporting the shaft portion 2,high driving efficiency or transportation efficiency can be obtained.

A major part between the side portions on the sheet substrate FB comesinto contact with the rib portion 23. One or more rib portions 23 areprovided between the first portion 21 and the second portion 22. In thepresent embodiment, for example, five rib portions 23 are provided. Therib portions 23 are disposed along the longitudinal direction of theshaft portion 2. The shaft portion 2 has a configuration that islightened while maintaining a constant rigidity by forming a portioncoming into contact with the major part of the sheet substrate FB as therib portion 23.

The respective gaps of the first portion 21, the second portion 22 andthe third portion 23 may all be, for example, equal gaps, or, similarlyto the present embodiment, may have a configuration in which, forexample, the gap between the first portion 21 and the rib portion 23next to the first portion 21 may become smaller than the gap between therib portions 23, and similarly, the gap between the second portion 22and the rib portion 23 next to the second portion 22 may be smaller thanthe gap between the rib portions 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, the holding portion 25 holds an area different fromthe circuit area RA of a winding start portion FH (see FIG. 9 or thelike, a leading portion for winding) of the sheet substrate FB. Theholding portion 25 has a slot portion 26. The slot portion 26 has anopening portion into which one end portion (herein, the end portion FH)of the sheet substrate FB is inserted. The slot portion 26 is formed,for example, between the first portion 21 and the second portion 22along the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 2, and, forexample, is formed from the surface of the shaft portion 2 toward theinside thereof in the diameter direction of the shaft portion 2.

In FIG. 2, the slot portion 6 of the holding portion 25 is formedextending transversely to the both side portions (the first portion 21and the second portion 22) so as to correspond to the width of the frontportion of the sheet substrate FB.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration along section A-A in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, in the present embodiment, it is configuredso that notch portions 23 a are formed at part of each of a plurality ofrib portions 23 and the slot portions 26 are inserted into the notchportions 23 a. Thus, the winding start portion of the sheet substrate FBto be inserted into the slot portion 26 is formed in advance so that thesize thereof in the transverse direction is shorter than the portionwhich is, for example, held in the first portion 21 or the secondportion 22, and is then inserted into the slot portion 26. The slotportions 26 are, for example, provided in a plurality of locationsaround the circumference of the surface of the shaft portion 2. In thepresent embodiment, the slot portions 26 are provided in four locations,for example, at positions which deviate from each other by 90°.

In addition, a separate member (e.g., a leader member or the like of thesheet substrate FB) may be attached to the winding start portion of thesheet substrate FB and the size of the separate member of the sheetsubstrate FB in the transverse direction may be smaller than that of thesheet substrate FB in the same direction. In this case, since themachining is completed to the extent of attaching a separate member tothe sheet substrate FB, for example, complex machining such as thecutting of the sheet substrate FB does not need to be performed.

Furthermore, notch portions for disposing the slot portions 26 may alsobe provided in part of the first portion 21 or the second portion 22,and the slot portions 26 may be provided up to part of the first portion21 and the second portion 22. In this case, the one end portion can beinserted into the slot portion 26 without machining (or fabricating) thewinding start portion of the sheet substrate FB.

As shown in FIG. 4, the slot portions 26 are fanned so that the gapsthereof become gradually narrow from the surface of the shaft portion tothe center thereof. For this reason, upon inserting the sheet substrateFB into the slot portion 26, the sheet substrate FB is pinched into thenarrowed portion of the gap among the slot portion 26 and is held. Inaddition, the sheet substrate FB is inserted into the slot portion 26and is held, and additionally, the end portion FH of the sheet substrateFB may be fixed to the first portion 21 or the second portion 22 by afixing pin 26 p.

Specifically, a plurality of fixing pins 26 p is provided in the innerportion of the slot portion 26 in an attachable and detachable mannerwith respect to the width direction of the sheet substrate FB, wherebythe winding start portion of the sheet substrate FB is fixed to the slotportion 26 by the fixing pin 26 p. By fixing the winding start portionof the sheet substrate FB using the fixing pin 26 p, it is possible toavoid an inclination of the one end portion of the sheet substrate FBwith respect to the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 2.

In at least one of the first portion 21 and the second portion 22, thereis provided a clamp mechanism 29 which pinches a winding rear portion FH(a terminal portion for winding) of the sheet substrate FB together withat least one surface of the first portion 21 and the second portion 22.FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view that shows a configuration of the clampmechanism 29. As shown in FIG. 3, the clamp mechanism 29 has a pushingplate 29 a and a metallic pin 29 b, whereby the pushing plate 29 a isadapted to be fixed to the first portion 21 or the second portion 22 bythe metallic pin 29 b.

The pushing plate 29 a includes a contact portion 29 aa which comes intocontact with the first portion 21 or the second portion 22, a metallicpin attachment portion 29 ab formed with a through hole into which themetallic pin 29 b is inserted, and a non-contact portion 29 ac whichforms a gap between it and the first portion 21 or the second portion 22when the clamp mechanism 29 is mounted on at least one of the firstportion 21 and the second portion 22. That is, the pushing plate 29 aincludes the contact portion 29 aa on one end portion of either end ofthe pushing plate 29 a, includes the non-contact portion 29 ac in theother end portion thereof, and includes the metallic pin attachmentportion 29 ab between the contact portion 29 aa and the non-contactportion 29 ac. When seen in the cross section thereof, the pushing plate29 a is formed, for example, in an L shape. When the pushing plate 29 ais mounted on the first portion 21 or the second portion 22, the gapformed between the non-contact portion 29 ac and the surface of thefirst portion 21 or the surface of the second portion 22 has a sizeequal to the thickness of the sheet substrate FB. In addition, similarlyto the winding start portion, a separate member may be attached to thewinding rear portion of the sheet substrate FB.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view that shows the configuration of the coverportion 3 in a state of being separated from the shaft portion 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the cover portion 3 accommodates the sheetsubstrate FB in a state of being wound around the shaft portion 2, forexample, for each shaft portion 2. Similarly to the shaft portion 2, thecover portion 3 is formed, for example, using a renewable material suchas a hard corrugated cardboard or a carton paper. Of course, the coverportion 3 may be formed using other materials.

With reference to FIG. 5, the cover portion 3 has cover members 30 (30Aand 3013) and a hinge portion 33, and the two cover members 30 areconnected to each other via the hinge portion 33 in an operable andclosable manner. Each cover member 30 has shaft holding portions 31 (31Aand 31B), protection portions 32 (32A and 32B) and lid portions 34 (34Aand 34B) that are provided in both end portions. In addition, a handle(not shown) or the like may be provided on the outer surface of thecover member 30.

Since the shaft holding portions 31A and 31B have the sameconfiguration, the shaft holding portion 31A will be described and thedescription of the shaft holding portion 31B will be omitted. The shaftholding portion 31A is a portion that holds the first portion 21 of theshaft portion 2 upon being mounted on the shaft portion 2. Theprotection portion 32 is a portion which is connected to the shaftholding portion 31A and is formed so as to be bent along thecircumferential direction of the shaft portion 2 to hide the sheetsubstrate FB wound around the shaft portion 2. The shaft holding portion31A is configured to hold the shaft portion 2 so that the first portion21 is exposed. The hinge portion 33 has for example, an elastic portion(not shown) that causes the elastic force to act in a direction thatopens the two cover members 30.

The lid portion 34 is provided in the end portion of the protectionportion 32, so that the lid portion 34 is overlapped with the lidportion 34B in the state in which the cover member 30A and the covermember 30B are closed. For example, by fixing the lid portion 34A andthe lid portion 34B so as not to be opened using the fixing tool 35 orthe like in the state in which the lid portion 34A overlaps with the lidportion 34B, the closed state of the cover member 30A and the covermember 30B can be maintained.

Next, a configuration of a substrate accommodation apparatus 100 whichaccommodates the sheet substrate FB in the substrate case 1 configuredas above will be described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of the substrateaccommodation apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 6, the substrate accommodation apparatus 100 has asubstrate carrying portion 101, an accommodating processing portion 102,a case supply portion 103, and a control apparatus CONT.

The substrate carrying portion 101 has a substrate carrying opening 101a that carries in the sheet substrate FB into the substrateaccommodation apparatus 100. In the substrate carrying portion 101, atransport roller 101R and a guide member 101G are provided along thetransport path of the sheet substrate FB.

For example, a plurality of transport rollers 101R is provided along thetransport path to transport the sheet substrate FB to the accommodatingprocessing portion 102. The guide member 101G guides the sheet substrateFB that is transported by the transport roller 101R. A substrate cuttingportion 104 is provided on the transport path of the sheet substrate FBin the substrate carrying portion 101. The substrate cutting portion 104cuts the sheet substrate FB which is, for example, formed in a bandshape into individual sheet substrates FB.

The accommodating processing portion 102 is disposed adjacent to thesubstrate carrying portion 101 with the wall members 105A and 105Bpinched therebetween. The accommodating processing portion 102 isconnected to the substrate carrying portion 101 via an opening portion1050 that is formed between the wall member 105A and the wall member105B. In the accommodating processing portion 102, the guide member 106which extends along the transport direction of the sheet substrate FBfrom the wall member 105A is provided.

The guide member 106 guides the sheet substrate FB that is transportedfrom the opening portion 105C. The guide member 106 has a joint portion107, so that part (a front portion 106 a) of the downstream side of thesheet substrate FB in the transport direction from the joint portion 107is bent. The front portion 106 a is connected to, for example, one endof the support mechanism 108. The other end of the support mechanism 108is connected to the wall member 105A. Thus, the front portion 106 a issupported by the wall member 105A via the support mechanism 108.

The support mechanism 108 has, for example, a piston mechanism, an aircylinder mechanism or the like and is formed flexibly in the supportdirection. The stretch amount of the support mechanism 108 can beadjusted by an adjustment mechanism (not shown) or the like. The supportmechanism 108 stretches by a predetermined stretch amount, so that thefront portion 106 a is bent around the joint portion 107 at apredetermined angle.

The accommodating processing portion 102 has a transportation mechanism110 that transports the sheet substrate FB. The transportation mechanism110 has transport rollers 110 a and 110 b. FIG. 7 is a top plane viewthat shows the configuration of the front portion 106 a. In addition, inFIG. 7, part of the constituents shown in FIG. 6 is omitted. As shown inFIG. 7, the transport roller 110 a is provided at the upper part of aguidance surface 106 b. The transport roller 110 b is, for example,mounted on the front portion 106 a. A plurality of transport rollers 110a and 11 b is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the transportdirection of the sheet substrate FB.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the transport rollers 110 a is, for example,connected to the wall member 105B via the support arm 1100 and the jointportion 110 d. The support aim 110 c is provided rotatably around thejoint portion 110 d and the rotation amount thereof can be adjusted byan adjustment mechanism (not shown). By adjusting the rotation amount ofthe support arm 110 c, it is possible to adjust the position of thetransport roller 110 b relative to the transport roller 110 b dependingon the bending angle of the front portion 106 a.

The transport roller 110 b is mounted on a concave portion formed in thefront portion 106 a. The concave portion is formed at a position whereit overlaps with the transport roller 110 a in the state in which thetransport roller 110 a is adjacent thereto. The transport roller 110 bis disposed within the concave portion so as to have substantially thesame surface state as the guidance surface 106 b. In a case where thesheet substrate FB is disposed on the transport roller 110 b, by makingthe transport roller 110 a adjacent to the front portion 106 a, it ispossible for the transport roller 110 a and the transport roller 110 bto pinch the sheet substrate FB therebetween. In at least one of thetransport roller 110 a and the transport roller 110 b, a rotationdriving mechanism (not shown) is provided. The transport roller 110 aand the transport roller 110 b are rotated by the rotation drivingmechanism, whereby the sheet substrate FB is transported by the rotationforce.

A position adjustment mechanism 109 is provided on the guidance surface106 b of the sheet substrate FB in the front portion 106 a. As shown inFIG. 7, a pair of position adjustment mechanisms 109 is installed so asto pinch the transport path of the sheet substrate FB on the guidancesurface 106 b. The pair of position adjustment mechanisms 109 comes intocontact with the sides of the sheet substrate FB, respectively. Thetransport direction of the sheet substrate FB is corrected whiletransporting the sheet substrate FB by the position adjustment mechanism109, thereby performing alignment of the transport location of the sheetsubstrate FB.

At the downstream side of the sheet substrate FB in the transportdirection relative to the front portion 106 a, a rotation drivingmechanism 111 which holds and rotates the shaft portion 2 is disposed.For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the rotation driving mechanism 111 hasa pair of rotators 111 a which is provided at a position pinching bothend portions of the shaft portion 2 in the rotation shaft direction, anda driving portion 111 b which drives the pair of rotators 111 a. Therotator 111 a is connected to each of the connection object portions 27and 28 with respect to the shaft portion 2. The driving portion 111 bhas, for example, a motor (not shown) or the like.

The rotator 111 a is attachably and detachably installed with respect tothe shaft portion 2 by the driving of the driving portion 111 b and isprovided rotatably using the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion2 as the rotational axis. The rotator 111 a rotates in the state ofbeing connected to the connection object portions 27 and 28, whereby theshaft portion 2 rotates.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rotator 111 a is disposed so as to hold theshaft portion 2 in a position where it is adjacent to the front portion106 a. At the upper part of the front portion 106 a in FIG. 6, a clampmounting mechanism 112 for mounting the clamp mechanism 29 with respectto the shaft portion 2 is installed. The clamp mounting mechanism 112has, for example, a driving mechanism (not shown) and is installed so asto be accessible to the shaft portion 2 and retractable from the shaftportion 2.

At the lower part of the rotation driving mechanism 111 in the drawings,a cover holding portion 113 and a cover opening and closing mechanism114 are provided. The cover holding portion 113 is a portion for holdingthe cover portion 3. The cover opening and closing mechanism 114 is aportion that opens and closes the cover holding portion 113. The coveropening and closing mechanism 114 has an attachment and detachmentmechanism (not shown) that attaches and detaches the fixing tool 35 withrespect to the cover portion 3. Furthermore, the cover opening andclosing mechanism 114 has, for example, a holding portion (not shown)which holds the lid portion 34 of the cover portion 3, and is movablyprovided in the state of holding the lid portion 34.

A discharging mechanism 115 is installed at the downstream side of therotation driving mechanism 111 and the cover holding portion 113. Thedischarging mechanism 115 is a portion that is connected to a casedischarging portion 102 a of the accommodating processing portion 102and guides the substrate case 1 to the case discharging opening 102 a.The discharging mechanism 115 has a guide member 115 a which is tiltedso that, for example, the case discharging opening 102 a side becomesthe lower part. The substrate case 1 rolls on the guide member 115 a andis guided to the case discharging opening 102 a.

The case supply portion 103 is disposed, for example, at the upper partof the discharging mechanism 115 in the drawings. A plurality ofsubstrate cases 1 is accommodated in the case supply portion 103. In therespective substrate cases 1 that are accommodated in the case supplyportion 103, the shaft portions 2 and the cover portion 3 are integratedwith each other. The case supply portion 103 is connected to theaccommodating processing portion 102 via the case supply opening 103 a.

A case transportation mechanism 116 is provided between the case supplyportion 103 and the accommodating processing portion 102. The casetransportation mechanism 116 is provided so that it can transport thesubstrate case 1 between the case supply portion 103 and theaccommodating processing portion 102. The case transportation mechanism116 has a mover 116 a that is connected to the connection objectportions 27 and 28 of the shaft portion 2, and a driving portion 116 bthat drives the mover 116 a. A pair of movers 116 a is provided, forexample, at a position where they pinch the longitudinal end portion ofthe shaft portion 2 therebetween. The driving portion 116 b is adaptedto drive the pair of movers 116 a in synchronous with each other. Themovers 116 a are movably provided, for example, with respect to each ofthe case supply portion 103, the rotation rotating mechanism 111, andthe cover holding portion 113. Thus, the case transportation mechanism116 is adapted to transport the substrate case 1 or a part thereofbetween the case supply portion 103, the rotation driving mechanism 111and the cover holding portion 113.

The substrate accommodation apparatus 100 configured as above is used bybeing connected to, for example, a substrate processing apparatus, whichforms a circuit area on the sheet substrate FB, or the like.

FIG. 8 is a diagram that shows a configuration of a case where thesubstrate accommodation apparatus 100 is connected to the substrateprocessing apparatus FPA and used.

As shown in FIG. 8, the substrate processing apparatus FPA has asubstrate supply portion SU which supplies a sheet substrate (e.g., afilm member) FB, a substrate processing portion PR which performs theprocessing with respect to the sheet substrate FB, and theabove-mentioned substrate accommodation apparatus 100. The substrateprocessing apparatus FPA is used, for example, by being installed at afactory or the like.

In the substrate processing apparatus FPA, the circuit area RA or thelike is formed on the sheet substrate FB by a so-called roll-to-rolltype (hereinafter, designated by a roll type). Firstly, the band-shapedsheet substrate FB is wound around the roller provided in the substratesupply portion SU, so that the sheet substrate FB is delivered from thesubstrate supply portion SU.

The substrate processing portion PR includes a transportation apparatus230, and a processing apparatus 210 that performs the processing withrespect to the processing surface Fp of the sheet substrate FB duringtransportation.

The transportation apparatus 230 transports the sheet substrate FB to besupplied from the substrate supply portion SU within the substrateprocessing portion PR and has a roller apparatus R to be transported toa substrate withdrawal portion CL side. For example, a plurality ofroller apparatuses R is provided along the transport path of the sheetsubstrate FB. A driving mechanism (not shown) is mounted on the rollerapparatus R of at least part of the plurality of roller apparatuses R.By the rotation of the roller apparatuses R, the sheet substrate FB istransported in a predetermined direction. For example, the rollerapparatus R of a part of the plurality of roller apparatuses R may bemovably installed in a direction perpendicular to the transportdirection.

The processing apparatus 210 has various devices for forming, forexample, the circuit area RA with respect to the processing surface Fpof the sheet substrate FB that is transported by the transportationapparatus 230. As such a device, for example, an electrode formingdevice for forming an electrode on the processing surface Fp, an elementforming device which forms a switching element on the processing surfaceFp, or the like can be adopted. Furthermore, in a case where a displayelement such as an organic EL element is formed, a partition formingdevice for forming a partition, a light emitting layer forming devicewhich forms a light emitting layer or the like are used. Morespecifically, a film forming device such as a liquid droplet applicationdevice (e.g., an ink jet type application device, a spin coat typeapplication device or the like), a vapor deposition device and asputtering device, a light exposure device, a developing device, asurface reforming device, a cleaning device or the like can be adopted.The respective devices are, for example, suitably provided on thetransport path of the sheet substrate FB. In addition, the substrateprocessing portion PR may have an alignment mechanism or the like thatperforms the alignment operation or the like with respect to the sheetsubstrate FB.

In addition, the transportation apparatus 230 transports the sheetsubstrate FB within the substrate processing portion PR, and, forexample, a plurality of circuit areas RA shown in FIG. 9 is formed alongthe longitudinal direction on the sheet substrate FB by the processingapparatus 210. In the circuit area RA formed on the sheet substrate FB,for example, a display element and a switching element to be formed onthe display area DA or a driver circuit to be formed in the driver areaDR or the like are included. The sheet substrates FB formed with thecircuit area RA are sequentially discharged from the substrateprocessing portion PR.

The size of the sheet substrate FB in the width direction (transversedirection) is formed, for example, by about 1 m to 2 m, and the sizethereof in the X direction (longitudinal direction) is formed, forexample, by about 10 m or more. Of course, the sizes are merely anexample, and are not limited thereto. For example, the size of the sheetsubstrate FB in the Y direction may be 50 cm or less or 2 m or more.Moreover, the size of the sheet substrate FB in the X direction may be10 m or less.

The substrate accommodation apparatus 100 is used, for example, by beingconnected to the downstream side of the transport direction of the sheetsubstrate FB of the substrate processing apparatus FPA. The sheetsubstrate FB discharged from the substrate processing apparatus FPA iscarried into the substrate carrying opening 101 a of the substrateaccommodation apparatus 100, for example, in the band shape as is.

Next, the operation of the substrate accommodation apparatus 100configured as above will be described.

The control apparatus CONT controls the case transportation mechanism116, moves the case transportation mechanism 116 to the case supplyportion 103, and carries the substrate case 1 into the accommodatingprocessing portion 102. In the present embodiment, since the shaftholding portion 31 of the cover portion 3 is held so as to expose thefirst portion 21 and the second portion 22 of the shaft portion 2, theconnection object portion 27 formed in the first portion 21 and theconnection object portion 28 formed in the second portion 22 are in theexposed state. Thus, even in the state in which the cover portion 3 isintegrated with the shaft portion 2, the mover 116 a of the casetransportation mechanism 116 can be connected to each of the connectionobject portions 27 and 28.

Then, the control apparatus CONT controls the case transportationmechanism 116, moves the case transportation mechanism 116 to the coverholding portion 113, holds the cover portion 3 of the substrate case 1,and puts the cover opening and closing mechanism 114 in the open state,thereby separating the shaft portion 2 from the cover portion 3. Next,the control apparatus CONT moves the case transportation mechanism 116to the rotation driving mechanism 111, thereby passing the shaft portion2, which was separated from the cover portion 3, to the rotation drivingmechanism 111. The control apparatus CONT holds the shaft portion 2 at aposition that is adjacent to the front portion 106 a, and adjusts therotation position of the rotation driving mechanism 111, thereby settingthe state in which the slot portion 26 of the shaft portion 2 faces theupstream side of the transport direction of the sheet substrate FB.

In this state, the control apparatus CONT drives the transport roller1018, thereby transporting the sheet substrate FB which was carried intothe substrate accommodation apparatus 100 via the substrate carryingopening 101 a. When the sheet substrate FB reaches the substrate cuttingportion 104, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the control apparatus CONTcuts the sheet substrates FB for each circuit area RA using thesubstrate cutting portion 104. At this time, for example, a perforationM is formed in the winding start portion FH of the sheet substrate FB.Furthermore, at this time, the shape of the end portion FH may beadjusted to a shape that can be inserted into the slot portion 26.

As shown in FIG. 10, after the sheet substrates FB have been cut, thecontrol apparatus CONT transports the respective cut sheet substrates FBto the accommodating processing portion 102. The sheet substrates FB areguided into the accommodating processing portion 102 along the guidemember 106. The control apparatus CONT drives the support mechanism 108and horizontally supports the front portion 106 a, so that the sheetsubstrates FB pass over the front portion 106 a. At this time the slotportion 26 of the shaft portion 2 is disposed in the vicinity of thefront portion 106 a. The position of the sheet substrate FB in adirection perpendicular to the transport direction is adjusted by theposition adjustment mechanism 109 in the process of passing over thefront portion 106 a. In addition, in order to prevent the substrate case1 or the shaft portion 2 from interfering with the front portion 106 abefore the shaft portion 2 of the substrate case 1 is transported to therotation driving mechanism 111, the support mechanism 108 may be bentdownwardly from the horizontal direction of the front portion 106 a.Furthermore, the support mechanism 108 may be adjusted to match theheight of the shalt portion 2 supported by the rotation drivingmechanism 111, thereby adjusting the height position of the sheetsubstrate FB that is delivered from the front portion 106 a.

Furthermore, the control apparatus CONT disposes the transport roller110 a on the transport roller 110 b of the front portion 106 a, therebyputting the sheet substrate FB in the transportable state. The sheetsubstrate PB which reaches between the transport roller 110 a and thetransport roller 110 b is transported to the downstream side of thetransport direction by the transport roller 110 a and the transportroller 110 b, whereby the winding start portion FH of the sheetsubstrate FB is inserted into the slot portion 26. The insertion amountof the end portion FH relative to the slot portion 26 is regulated sothat the perforation M formed in the end portion FH moves near theopening portion of the slot portion 26. For example, the insertionamount may be adjusted by the transportation amount of the sheetsubstrate FB relative to the slot portion 26 through the controlapparatus CONT. Otherwise, the machining position of the perforation Mmay be adjusted in advance in view of the state in which the end portionFH is inserted into the slot portion 26. Since, in the sheet substrateFB, only the area different from the circuit area RA is inserted intothe slot portion 26 and held, damage or the like to the circuit area RAor the like is avoided.

After the end portion FH of the sheet substrate FB is inserted into theslot portion 26, as shown in FIG. 11, the control apparatus CONT rotatesthe shaft portion 2 by rotating the rotator 111 a. In addition, beforerotating the shaft portion 2, as described above, the end portion FHwithin the slot portion 26 may be fixed by the fixing pin 26 p. Inaddition, the sheet substrate FB is wound around the shaft portion 2 bythe rotation of the shaft portion 2. At this time, since the perforationM of the sheet substrate FB is bent along the winding direction, thesheet substrate FB is smoothly wound without any protrusions.

After the winding of the sheet substrate FB is finished, the controlapparatus CONT mounts the clamp mechanism 29 to the shaft portion 2 bythe clamp mounting mechanism 112, and fixes the winding rear portion FHof the sheet substrate FB wound around the shaft portion 2 to at leastone of the first portion 21 and the second portion 22. After the clampmechanism 29 is mounted, the control apparatus CONT passes the shaftportion 2 from the rotation driving mechanism 111 to the casetransportation mechanism 116, thereby accommodating the shaft portion 2within the cover portion 3 by the case transportation mechanism 116.

The control apparatus CONT puts the cover portion 3 in the closed stateusing the cover opening and closing mechanism 114 after the shaftportion 2 is accommodated in the cover portion 3, and mounts the fixingtool 35 to the lid portion 34 of the cover portion 3, therebymaintaining the closed state. As a result, the shaft portion 2 and thecover portion 3 are integrated with each other and become the state ofthe substrate case 1, and the sheet substrate FB wound around the shaftportion 2 is accommodated in the cover portion 3. The control apparatusCONT transports the substrate case 1 to the discharging mechanism 115 bythe case transportation mechanism 116. The substrate case 1 istransported to the case discharging opening 102 a via the dischargingmechanism 115 and is discharged from the case discharging opening 102 ato the outside of the substrate accommodation apparatus 100.

By repeatedly performing the operation, for example, for each circuitarea RA of the sheet substrate FB, in the state in which the formedsheet substrate FB of the circuit area RA is accommodated in thesubstrate case 1, the substrate cases 1 are sequentially discharged fromthe case discharging opening 102 a. The substrate cases 1 formed in thismanner are forwarded, for example, in the discharged state or aredischarged to the line of the subsequent process or the like.

As described above, the substrate case 1 of the present embodimentincludes the shaft portion 2 that can wind the sheet substrate FB havingthe circuit area RA in which the circuit manufacturing process isperformed, and the cover portion 3 that accommodates the sheet substrateFB in the state of being wound around the shaft portion 2, the shaftportion 2 having the holding portion 25 that holds an area differentfrom the circuit area RA among the winding start portion FH of the sheetsubstrate FB. Thus, the sheet substrate FB can be accommodated withoutadversely affecting the circuit area RA of the sheet substrate FB. As aresult, the handling ability of the sheet substrate FB can be enhanced.

Furthermore, the substrate accommodation apparatus 100 of the presentembodiment includes a rotation driving mechanism 111 as the windingmechanism which winds the sheet substrate FB having the circuit area RA,in which the circuit manufacturing process is performed, around theshaft portion 2, and a case transportation mechanism 116 whichaccommodates the shaft portion 2 with the sheet substrate FB woundthereon in the cover portion 3. Thus, the sheet substrate FB can besmoothly accommodated in the substrate case 1. As a result, the handlingability of the sheet substrate FB can be enhanced.

The technical range of the present invention is not limited to theabove-mentioned embodiment, but can be suitably modified within therange without departing from the gist of the present invention.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, a description has been given of theconfiguration in which the sheet substrate FB is wound around the shaftportion 2 in a state where the shaft portion 2 is separated from thecover portion 3, but a configuration, in which the sheet substrate FB iswound around the shaft portion 2 in the state where, for example, theshaft portion 2 is integrated with the cover portion 3, may be adoptedwithout being limited thereto.

In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 12A, it is possible to adopta configuration in which the opening portion 3 a is provided in thecover portion 3. The cover portion 3 has a configuration in which thecover member 30A and the cover member 30B are connected to each other,for example, via the hinge portion 33 and the opening portion 3 a isdisposed in an opening and closing boundary portion between the covermember 30A and the cover member 30B. Furthermore, the end portion of thecover portion 3 is in a state where the connection object portions 27and 28 of the shaft portion 2 are exposed. For this reason, it ispossible to connect the cover portion 3 and the shaft portion 2 in theintegrated state to an external connection portion (e.g., the rotator111 a, the mover 116 a or the like).

FIG. 12B is a diagram that shows the shape along the section B-B of FIG.12A. As shown in FIG. 12B, in the shaft portion 2, a slot portion 26 isprovided in the position corresponding to the opening portion 3 a. Inaddition, the slot portion 26 is formed from the surface of the shaftportion 2 to the inner portion thereof, but is formed so as to slightlydeviate from the center of the shaft portion 2. In this case, uponwinding the sheet substrate FB, it is possible to lower the angle of thefold mark which is formed in the winding start portion FH of the sheetsubstrate FB. As a result, for example, even if the perforation M as inthe above-mentioned embodiment is not formed, the sheet substrate FB canbe smoothly wound without the formation of unevenness.

In addition, the arrangement of the opening portion 3 a is not limitedto the configuration shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B and, for example, may beany position on the cover member 30A and the cover member 30B.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a description has been given ofthe configuration in which the sheet substrate FB having a circuit areaRA, in which the circuit process was performed, is accommodated in thesubstrate case 1. The sheet substrate FB that is accommodated in thesubstrate case 1 may be one (a finished product) having a circuit areaRA in which all the circuit processes constituting the display deviceare performed, or may be a circuit area RA (a middle product) in which aportion of all the circuit processes is performed.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the substrate cutting portion104 is installed in the substrate carrying portion 101 but may beinstalled in the accommodating processing portion 102. For example, thesubstrate cutting portion 104 may be installed at the downstream side ofthe transport direction of the front portion 106 a among theaccommodating processing portion 102.

Furthermore, the cover member 30 of the substrate case 1 in the presentembodiment was formed in the shape of a cylinder, but may be formed inthe shape of a square pillar without being limited to the cylindershape.

Moreover, the substrate case 1 in the present embodiment has beendescribed as having the configuration in which one sheet substrate FB isaccommodated in a single case, but two or more sheet substrates FB maybe accommodated in the one case with or without being cut.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A substrate case comprising: a shaftportion including a holding portion that detachably holds and contactsone end portion of a sheet-shaped substrate on which a display elementis formed, a first portion, a second portion opposite to the firstportion, and a rib portion disposed between the first portion and thesecond portion and including a plurality of ribs, each of the ribsincluding a curved side surface curved in a ring shape around asubstantially entire circumference of the surface of the shaft portion,the curved side surfaces of the ribs contacting with a surface of thesheet-shaped substrate, and the curved side surfaces of the ribs beingseparate from each other in a longitudinal direction and acircumferential direction of the shaft portion; and a cover portion thatis openable and closable and is attached to the shaft portion and toaccommodate the sheet-shaped substrate in a state where the one endportion of the sheet-shaped substrate is held by the holding portion ofthe shaft portion and where the sheet-shaped substrate is wound aroundthe rib portion of the shaft portion and is rolled.
 2. The substratecase according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion has a slotportion that is formed from a surface of the first portion, a surface ofthe second portion and the curved side surfaces of the ribs toward theinside of the shaft portion; and wherein the slot portion is formed soas to extend in an axial direction of the shaft portion.
 3. Thesubstrate case according to claim 2, wherein a gap of the slot portiongradually narrows from the surface of the first portion, the surface ofthe second portion, and the curved side surfaces of the ribs toward theinside of the shaft portion.
 4. The substrate case according to claim 3,wherein the slot portion is provided at a plurality of positions aroundthe surface of the first portion, the surface of the second portion, andthe curved side surfaces of the ribs.
 5. The substrate case according toclaim 2, wherein the shaft portion has a connection portion whichconnects the first portion, the second portion, and the rib portionalong the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion; and wherein theslot portion is formed at the connection portion.
 6. The substrate caseaccording to claim 2, wherein the curved side surfaces of the ribs areseparated by the slot portion in the circumferential direction of theshaft portion.
 7. The substrate case according to claim 1, wherein theholding portion has a fixing pin that fixes a winding start portion ofthe substrate to the surface of the first portion and the surface of thesecond portion.
 8. The substrate case according to claim 7, wherein theshaft portion has a connection portion which connects the first portion,the second portion, and the rib portion.
 9. The substrate case accordingto claim 1, further comprising: a fixing portion that fixes an areadifferent from the end portion of the substrate to at least one of theshaft portion or the cover portion in the state of the substrate beingwound around the surface of the first portion, the surface of the secondportion, and the curved side surfaces of the ribs.
 10. The substratecase according to claim 9, wherein the fixing portion has a clampmechanism, and wherein the clamp mechanism pinches the substratetogether with at least one of the surface of the first portion or thesurface of the second portion.
 11. The substrate case according to claim1, wherein at least one of the first portion or the second portion has aconnection object portion that is connected to at least one of a drivingmechanism for driving the shaft portion or a transportation mechanismfor transporting the shaft portion.
 12. The substrate case according toclaim 1, wherein the cover portion has a shaft holding portion thatholds the shaft portion.
 13. The substrate case according to claim 12,wherein the shaft holding portion has an exposure portion that exposes apart of the first portion and the second portion of the shaft portion.14. The substrate case according to claim 1, wherein the cover portionhas an opening portion through which the substrate passes.
 15. Thesubstrate case according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion has a lidportion that can be opened and closed, and a hinge portion providedbetween the first portion and the second portion of the shaft portionwith respect to the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion.
 16. Thesubstrate case according claim 15, wherein the lid portion is formed soas to allow the shaft portion to be inserted or removed through thecover portion.
 17. The substrate case according to claim 15, furthercomprising: a closed state holding portion that holds the closed stateof the lid portion.